The past few days have been a blur of long hours of driving, late night dinners, trying to find campgrounds, and sneaking in a few excursions.  It was nice to finally make it out of Texas where we were always fighting the wind buffeting the van and slowing down to 35 mph through all the small towns on FM roads.  Cheyenne Mountain State Park in Colorado Springs turned out to be a surprisingly nice place to stay in spite of sharing space with RV's.  Expansive views of the mountains and the Springs in the distance.  Nicely laid out camping pods with all your amenities right on the pad.  Got to refill with water but the grey water hose would NOT work!  It doesn't lay flat and there isn't enough pressure to make it through the coils of loops in the hose.  Have to figure this out.

The frustration of the day though was that we could NOT find a camping spot anywhere around the Springs because it was summer in Colorado and Father's Day weekend.  Everything was booked!!!!  Gina, my granddaughter, spent hours researching online and nothing, nada, out of luck.  In the end we were able to boondock down a road on forest service land.  It's a place for people to come and ride their ATV's.  Friday night was nestled in the trees with only 1 other rig nearby.  Quiet.  But....!  Lordy the next morning by 10:00 it was like an ATV invasion.  We were almost hemmed in by trucks and trailers descending on us.  We quickly buttoned everything up in the van and hightailed it out of there.  There was a massive onslaught of the locals with their trucks and trailers lined up like sardines with ATV's and dirtbikes whizzing by kicking up dust.  SO glad to be out of there!  It reminded me of Kroto Creek parking lot on the weekends on the way to our cabin in Trapper Creek in Alaska.  The parking area many years ago used to maybe hold 10 trucks with their dog boxes perched on top.  But now there are literally hundreds of rigs camped out with either snowmachines or ATVs buzzing off in the open tundra.

Friday afternoon we had a glorious trip to the Garden of the Gods - a must do in Colorado Springs.  The next day was Pikes Peak.  Loooong line entering the park, waiting for the shuttle from MP13 to take us to the top, and then disappointment on the peak because it is a total construction zone.  Later we learned we evidently missed the one spot for the views.  The day was nice but chilly.  It's at 14,000+ feet where the air is thin and sun penetrating.  Best views were driving the road, particularly from MP 13 to the top at MP19.  But still worth the trip.  Would be nice to go back when the construction is finished and the little train running again.

Late afternoon I dropped off Gina to visit a friend before flying back to Texas.  I continued on to Ft. Collins to visit my dear friend, Brenda.  We've been catching up while keeping our 6' social distancing.  Colorado is good example of a state doing it right re social distancing and mandatory wearing of masks. 

Besides just visiting, the highlight has been going to Van Works, one of the granddaddy's of the van builders.  Have found that there are few things I could add to make life a bit more comfortable:  an awning instead of my tarps I rig, bug net doors, different hose for my grey water, ladder for the side of the van.  Unfortunately they weren't able to help with any but they are a super crew and it was fascinating to see their operation and all the different styles of Sprinters and Promasters.  Today am off to CamperWorld to see if I can get a new grey water hose...